Converting biomass to gaseous fuel hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method for producing a C 1-5 hydrocarbon from a solution containing a C 2-6 carboxylic acid or a C 2-6 carboxylate which is derived from biomass by contacting the solution with a solid catalyst to decarboxylate the C 2-6 carboxylic acid or the C 2-6 carboxylate, thereby forming a C 1-5 hydrocarbon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of decarboxylating a C 2-6  carboxylic acid or a C 2-6  carboxylate, the method comprising:
 providing a solution containing a C 2-6  carboxylic acid or a C 2-6  carboxylate that is derived from biomass; and 
 contacting the solution with a solid catalyst to form a C 1-5  hydrocarbon. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is performed at 200-400° C. and at 1 atm. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the gas is hydrogen, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal and a substrate. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the metal is Co, Cu, Pt, Pd, Sn, Re, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the metal is Au. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the gas is hydrogen, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, a zeolite, a molecular sieve, a perovskite, a clay, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a carbonaceous material. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon, carbon black, graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the carbonaceous material includes carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass is a plant or a photosynthetic organism or a part thereof. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass is a carbohydrate. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst and the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, and Au. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst and the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, and Au.